#alternate episode 15x09

[destieltropecollection]

Destiel Trope Collection 2024 | Day 4: Hurt/Comfort

,,Hello, Dean." | @tami-ryver Rating: Teen & Up Word Count: 1,162 Main Tags/Warnings: Castiel teaches Dean Enochian, Dean Winchester Has Self-Worth Issues, Dean Winchester Has Self-Esteem Issues, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Castiel Takes Care of Dean Winchester, Pining Dean Winchester, Dean Winchester Loves Castiel, Castiel Loves Dean Winchester Summary: Cas teaches Dean Enochian and they both might get something more out of it.

Falling Inside The Black | @tami-ryver Rating: Mature Word Count: 1,715 Main Tags/Warnings: Demon Dean Winchester, Season/Series 10, Alternate Season/Series 10, Pining Dean Winchester, Pining Castiel (Supernatural), Castiel/Dean Winchester Mutual Pining, Castiel and Dean Winchester Need to Use Their Words, Cocky Dean Winchester, Castiel is So Done with Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester Ships Castiel/Dean Winchester, Angel Castiel (Supernatural), 5+1 Things, Pining, Mutual Pining, Fluff, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Fluff and Angst, Fluff and Hurt/Comfort Summary: 5 times Dean hates being a demon and 1 time he takes advantage of it.

Warm Embrace | @tami-ryver Rating: Mature Word Count: 2,957 Main Tags/Warnings: Alternate Universe - Different First Meeting, Kidnapped Dean Winchester, British Men of Letters (Supernatural) Being Assholes, Hunter Dean Winchester, Creature Castiel (Supernatural), Castiel Takes Care of Dean Winchester, Protective Castiel (Supernatural), Castiel is Protective of Dean Winchester, Escape, Coils, Hugs, First Kiss, Castiel/Dean Winchester First Kiss, Angst, Scared Dean Winchester, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Gorgon Castiel, Medusa Castiel, Summary: Dean freezes. He is unarmed, Cas doesn't know how to use the gun and their only escape route is the door to Cas' right. Dean doesn't know what to do, he is paralysed with fear. He is going to die here.

Non Solum | @thisisapaige Rating: Explicit Word Count: 16,061 Main Tags/Warnings: Alternate Universe - Fantasy, Witch Castiel, Hunter Dean Winchester, Strangers to Lovers, Angst with a Happy Ending Summary: Castiel lives a quiet life, a solitary life, a lonely life. He cannot risk anyone finding out he is a witch, lest any hunters seek out his isolated cabin in the frozen Northern Wastes. Interacting only with those who require his healing services, Castiel constructs an existence that ensures he will be alone. Alone, that is, until a bloodied, dying man crawls up to his front door and threatens to tear down everything Castiel has built.

The River | @davidfosterwallaceandgromit Rating: Teen & Up Word Count: 16,763 Main Tags/Warnings: Graphic depictions of violence, Episode: s15e09 The Trap, Purgatory, Alternate Season/Series 15, Character Study, Angst, Season/Series 15, Divorce Arc Summary: Cas has seen Dean in every state from abject misery to desperate determination, but his essential nature has never changed. This, this fight against Chuck, it’s different. Ever since the cemetery, Dean is acting differently. Rewrite of 15x09 "The Trap," dealing more directly with Dean's control issues and Jack's death.

Love Me Anyway | @verobatto Rating: Explicit Word Count: 22,027 Main Tags/Warnings: Modern setting, CEO!Dean, secretary!Castiel, bodyguard!Castiel, friends to lovers, trauma, panic attack, coming out, character development, pining, falling in love, bi!Castiel, emotional hurt/comfort, PTSD, kidnapping. Summary: For five years Castiel Novak was CEO Dean Winchester's perfect bodyguard and assistant. Novak, the only man the powerful leader trusts. But one day, Castiel Novak quits his job all of the sudden because he wants to marry his girlfriend and have a normal life, leaving Dean speechless. Dean realizes he knows nothing about the best employee he had. As his world turns unexpectedly upside down, the famous CEO decides become Novak's friend to keep him close again. But try to become a "good selfless friend" is something new for Dean... and even more when he discovers through that path he may have feelings for Castiel.

Monster Crush | @thefandomsinhalor Rating: Mature Word Count: 22,441 Main Tags/Warnings: Canon Divergent, Episode: S07E01, Creature Castiel, Angel Castiel, Summer, Vacation Spot, Fluff and Angst, Sleepy Cuddles, Protective Castiel, Hurt Dean Summary: With Godstiel’s reign finally over and all the souls back in purgatory, Dean is aggravated (but not surprised) to learn that yet another problem has surfaced: Castiel, after recovering from the ritual, appears to be growing monster parts. As in, one second he has vampire fangs, and the next he has tattooed djinn arms. And then there are the tentacles. Castiel believes it will wear off. Dean has trust issues. Still hurt by his betrayal, Dean nonetheless decides that he and his mega-monster-shifter angel should lay-low somewhere isolated until they know more. Which makes it very complicated for Dean to keep giving him the cold shoulder.

Graceland | @deliciousblizzardshark Rating: Explicit Word Count: 24,554 Main Tags/Warnings: Alternate Universe- No Supernatural, Grief/Mourning, Hurt/Comfort, Mechanic Dean Winchester, Human Castiel (Supernatural),Trans Castiel (Supernatural),Trans Male Character, Road Trips, Getting Together, canon-typical child abuse, Religious Cults, mentions of transphobia, Found Family, Sam Winchester is Dead, Suicidal Thoughts Summary: Sammy died on a Wednesday morning, only a few miles away from where Dean was sleeping off a hangover, sprawled across his bed in a pair of worn boxers as if the world couldn’t hold any more trouble for him. -- Sammy's dead and Dean, who'd devoted his whole life to taking care of his younger brother doesn't know what else to do but to pack up the Impala and take to the road. It's only when he picks up Castiel, an escapee from a religious cult with ghosts of his own, that he begins to learn how to escape his grief and to believe there might be a place where he belongs.

His Angelic Wings Aren't | @Abletownshipnumber5 Rating: Explicit Word Count: 36,249 Main Tags/Warnings: Angel wings, post-season/post finale, Castiel's angelic grace, hurt/comfort, time travel, slow burn, canon-typical violence, kidnapped Dean Winchester, Traumatized Dean Winchester, Swearing, homophobic language, mildly dubious consent Summary: After Dean arrives in Heaven, he discovers Cas has been freed from the Empty by Jack. Jack transforms Dean into an angel so he can serve in Cas' newly formed garrison. However, their reunion did not go as Dean had hoped. Also, Jack brought back angels previously sent to the Empty by Team Free Will and some aren't happy with Dean.

[orionsangel86]

Vicious Circles - Part 3

Where things come to ahead in this alternate 15x09 fic.

(Also on AO3)

 “Do you know what I love most about humans? You’re all so damn hopeful. So desperately clinging on to this idea that you’ll get a happy ending. It pleases me. Of course, you are all deluding yourselves. I didn’t create this world, or any of the others, to be happy. Life, as I’ve created it, is tough. It’s tragic. All men must die in the end. And the best stories? The ones that really stay with you? They are full of suffering, and of men going to extreme lengths to defeat death, only to end in a poetic tragedy anyway. Because that’s life after all.

 Don’t you agree, Sam?”

 Sam had been tied to this chair for hours. His head was still fuzzy from Chuck’s mind games, but he had managed to get a good idea of his surroundings. It looked like a casino? But the scent of blood was thick in the air, and aside from Chuck’s voice, the room was filled with silence. No bells or chimes from the slot machines, no clattering of dice on the table, no shuffling of cards. Whatever happened here, it wasn’t good. Eileen still sat opposite to him, also tied with her hands behind her back. Her expression was full of concern and fear.

 Chuck was staring at Sam, impatiently waiting for an answer. Sam blinked.

 “What? I don’t care Chuck. If you want your story to continue so badly, then let us go so we can keep playing it out.”

 Chuck rolled his eyes.

 “Ah, but then you’d just keep trying to find a way to stop me. Which you won’t be able to do, because I’m God.” He smirked, and Sam glared at him defiantly.

 “If that was true, then we wouldn’t be here, tied up, having to listen to your bullshit right now.”

 Chuck’s grin dropped, and he leaned in close to Sam, their noses practically touching.

 “You ought to show me some respect. I own you, Sam. Don’t underestimate me. Or my power.”

 He stood up straight and picked up a pink-coloured drink, swirling it around before taking a sip.

 “The reason you and your little friend are here Sam is because I was hoping to talk some sense into you. To encourage you to get back on script. Seeing as you didn’t take my advice before, it seemed more forceful measures were necessary.”

 Chuck glanced at Eileen, who had been sitting quietly, watching him and reading his lips.

 “For instance, I know that you’ve taken quite a liking to this pretty lady.” He reached out and stroked Eileen’s cheek making her recoil in disgust. “Bringing her back, that was off-script.”

 Chuck sighed dramatically and took another sip of his drink.

 “You know, when I first wrote magic into the story, when I decided that it might be cool to have some loopholes, some cheat codes to my world… it was always supposed to be limited to a select few witches, and always in a way that would ultimately doom them. Like magical karma. You wanna play around with my universe, you better be prepared to pay the price.

 Some, like Rowena…well, I turned a blind eye for a long time.” Chuck shook his head, and Sam felt a chill run through him. He glanced at Eileen who was shifting in her chair, clearly trying to break free of her bonds.

 “My biggest issue was when magic started to interfere with my starring characters. Those loopholes… they weren’t for yours or Dean’s use. Especially not when it allowed you to take the story in the wrong direction.”

 Chuck was distracted with his monologue, and Sam’s eyes darted between him and Eileen, who was signalling him to keep Chuck’s attention on him. To keep him talking.

 “But surely a story with magic, and getting us to believe we can manipulate or beat the system, is more interesting? Has more depth?” Sam asked.

 Chuck nodded thoughtfully.

 “Perhaps you’re right,” he said.

 Eileen had managed to get her hands free and shook herself out of the rope bonds. Chuck wasn’t looking, instead, he was smirking at Sam.

 “But only to a point. Bringing back people for your own selfish benefit, who have no place in my story, though…”

 Eileen had managed to jump up and pull out a concealed knife. She made a run at Chuck and--

 Chuck held out an arm, freezing Eileen on the spot.

 “…that’s something that I plan to correct.” He stared at Eileen with cold, angry eyes and a sinister smile on his lips. He had known what she was planning all along. Sam yelled her name and struggled with his bonds.

 “Chuck, please! Let her go! This is nothing to do with her. Just let her leave, and you can do whatever you like with me.”

 Chuck sighed. “You’re just not getting it, are you Sam? Didn’t you pay attention to the vision? To the other versions of you that I know you saw… My various drafts, all the different ways it could have ended for you and Dean?”

 “What has any of that got to do with Eileen?! She’s not a part of this!” Sam pleaded.

 “That’s right. Exactly! She’s not a part of this. She doesn’t belong in this story.”

 Sam looked desperately between Chuck and Eileen. “No. Chuck, even if your story is about Dean and me, and us killing each other… there still has to be other people, other characters! It can’t just be me and Dean all the time! Why can’t she just be a--a side character in the story? Doesn’t it raise the stakes to have us care about other people, outside of each other?”

 “Oh Sam. That may be true, but you didn’t want Eileen to just be a side character in your story. Did you?”

 Sam glared at Chuck, but his shoulders dropped as he looked back at Eileen. She was still frozen in place, watching him helplessly. He slumped back in his chair, defeated.

 “No,” he said sadly, still looking at Eileen. “I love her.”

 Eileen’s surprise was evident, but she flashed a small smile. “I love you too, Sam.” She replied.

 Chuck frowned. “You see, this is just not working. The only love story in Supernatural is the one between the brothers! There’s no romance in Supernatural!”

 “Between the brothers?” Sam pulled his eyes away from Eileen to scrunch up his nose and stare at Chuck in horror.

 “Well, not like THAT… eww. Though I have glanced at some pretty freaky fanfiction in the past…” Chuck stared into the middle distance for a moment as if remembering something terrible and horrifying. Then he shook himself off and grinned at Sam. “No, I mean, you and Dean are my leading men, the love you share is what drives and powers this whole story. The drama of one brother, having to kill the other, and then kill himself… the co-dependency… the TRAGEDY. It’s the perfect story!”

 Sam shook his head.

 “You’re wrong. There are plenty of brilliant stories out there. Stories that end happy.”

 “That’s not how this is going to work, Sam. I get MY story. And here’s why…”

 Chuck snapped his fingers, and Sam watched in horror as Eileen instantly turned to dust and disappeared.

 “NOOOO!” Sam screamed. Chuck smirked at him. “WHAT DID YOU DO?!” He cried.

 “Don’t worry, Sam. She’s not dead. She’s just… gone away.” Chuck waved his hand as if this explained Eileen’s whereabouts at all. Distraught and horrified, Sam stared icily at Chuck.

 “Bring. Her. Back.” He growled through gritted teeth.

 “Oh, I will, Sam. Don’t worry. If you comply, Eileen will get to live a perfectly normal happy little life. Just, not with you.” Chuck sipped his drink smugly, and Sam felt his hatred for the man fill his veins.

 “How do I know you’ll keep your promise?” He asked.

 “Because, when the story plays out, right before my grand finale, I’ll come to you, and to guarantee your compliance AND the compliance of your brother, I’ll bring her back. I’ll erase her memory of you, and I’ll set her on her way. She will get a fully human life based entirely on her own choices. I won’t meddle in her story at all.”

 Sam felt the tears fall down his cheeks, and he blinked through them.

 “She’ll get to be happy? You promise me that she’ll be happy. Promise me. Make sure that she lives, and she is happy.” Sam sobbed.

 Chuck grinned coldly.

 “Promise.”

 …

 Dean sat in the library, staring into the darkness. His fifth glass of whiskey was finally starting to numb the pain in his chest. His eyes were red and sore from his earlier tears, but now he sat silently. He had no tears left to cry. He didn’t know where Sam was, his brother wasn’t answering his phone, and Dean knew he had to investigate that in case something was wrong, but he couldn’t bring himself to move. Everything was damn hopeless now anyway.

 The metal creaking of the bunker’s front door pulled Dean out of his trance. He turned to see Sam slowly stumble down the stairs. He could tell from his brother’s posture that something was wrong.

 Swaying as he stood up, he staggered to the war room to greet Sam.

 “Sammy?” He called out to no response. When Sam finally looked up at him, he saw that his eyes were just as red as his own. His brother’s face filled with an eerily familiar look of grief and defeat.

 “What happened?” he asked, though he wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer.

 “I could say the same to you,” Sam said.

 Dean found a chair and slumped into it. He clenched his jaw and fought to say the words out loud.

 “We lost, Sammy.”

 Sam sat in the opposite chair and considered Dean’s demeanour. “So did we,” He replied, voice breaking.

 “Sam? Where’s Eileen?”

 Sam looked up, and his eyes filled with tears. “She’s gone, Dean. Chuck-“

 “Chuck?!” Dean stood up in a panic. “What happened, Sam? Are you hurt?”

 “No. But we… we gotta stop trying to beat him, Dean.”

 Dean furrowed his brow.

 “Chuck took Eileen. He’s using her as leverage. If we stop fighting him and ��play our roles’, then she gets to live.”

 Dean shook his head.

 “No, Sam. We can find a way to save her. If he’s still got her, then we can get her back… Hell, we have to try. I want at least one of us to have a chance at happiness!”

 Sam stood up and reached out to grip his brother’s shoulder.

 “Dean, he’s not holding her prisoner. He made her disappear, like… dust. She’s gone.”

 Dean regarded Sam’s tired face, his brother looked broken, like the fight had left him. He looked exactly like how Dean felt.

 “Well then, we play our roles, and when Chuck brings her back, then the two of you can be together again?” Dean asked.

 Sam shook his head sadly.

 “This only ends one way for us, Dean. Neither of us gets a happy ending.”

 Dean’s eyes widened, and he stepped back, sitting back down in the chair and closing his eyes. “So that’s it? We’ve lost?”

 Sam mirrored Dean’s movements and nodded, his eyes still teary and red.

 “Where’s Cas?” Sam asked. “We should let him know.”

 Dean’s face dropped, and he swigged back the last of his whiskey.

 “I guess we both lost something special today Sammy.”

 Sam froze, and he stared at Dean, not wanting to know the truth but knowing he had to ask anyway.

 “Dean… what happened to Cas?”

 Dean gripped the empty glass in his hand, refusing to look at his brother.

 “He’s… dead.”

 Sam drew in a breath and sat back.

 “How?” Sam asked in horror. “Are you sure? He can’t be! It’s Cas!”

 Dean shook his head.

 “It was my fault. I should’da done more to get him out of there. Damn fool sacrificed himself so I could get back.”

 “Get back from where Dean? What happened today?”

 Dean wiped his eyes and scrubbed his hand over his face.

 “Michael. He told us about a spell to trap Chuck. It needed this flower from purgatory, this leviathan blossom, so Michael created a door, and we went and got it.” He stood up while telling the story, needing to move as he felt the anger boil up inside him. “Cas was stubborn, we were both angry, we fought. Benny was there… we got caught out by leviathans, they had us surrounded. Cas managed to hold them off, but…” Dean stopped and looked back at Sam, tears flowing freely down his cheeks. “There were too many. Cas used himself as bait.”

 “What if he’s still there, Dean? If he managed to fight them off-“

 “He didn’t.”

 “How do you know?”

 “Because I saw them rip him to shreds!” Dean yelled.

 Sam froze and watched as Dean visibly shook with anger and emotion.

 “I saw everything, Sammy. I saw those sons of bitches eat him alive. My best friend… and the person I--“ Dean broke off and clenched his jaw. Unable to say the words again.

 Sam felt helpless. Still dealing with his own grief, he didn’t know what to say to make any of this better.

 “and now… Chuck… and Eileen. We can’t even do the damn spell because you went and made a deal. So Cas died for nothing. He died for NOTHING!” Dean shouted and, in his anger and frustration, threw his empty glass across the room, watching it shatter as it hit the wall. Sam jumped at the sound but remained silent.

 Dean breathed deeply, trying to control his anger.

 “I’m sorry, Sam.”

 Sam shook his head. “Don’t be. I’m sorry too.”

 “I need to be alone,” Dean said. He clapped Sam on the shoulder and headed to his room. Leaving his broken-hearted brother alone in the darkness of the war room. Sam blinked away another tear and watched him leave.

 …

 After everything that happened, Dean needed to clear his head. At least Sam was safe, even if he was in just as dark a place as Dean was now. They both had lost any shred of hope of winning, and Dean wanted nothing more than to drink himself to death. Screw Chuck’s story, screw saving the world, screw everyone else. He was done with it all. Feeling the weight of the day finally defeat him, he collapsed face-first on his bed. He breathed in deeply and tried to push down all of the painful memories that continued to haunt him.

Cas always comes back, Dean thought. He’ll be in the Empty now, and he’ll find a way back just like before… He just needs something to fight for. Dean sat up straight as soon as the thought came to him.

     I need to give him something to fight for.  

 So Dean wiped his eyes of the tears that had stubbornly kept flowing. He clasped his hands together, and he prayed.

 “Cas…” Dean whispered into the dark silence of his room. “Castiel.” Another tear fell down his cheek as the pain welled up inside him again.

 “I don’t know if you can hear me, but if you can… I’m so sorry, Cas. This was never meant to happen. It all went too far, got too much. And I couldn’t-- “

 Dean took a deep breath and shook his head. He needed to get this right. No excuses.

 “We’ve been through so much together. You are so important to me, I know you don’t believe it right now, and I know I haven’t shown it, but you are.

 “You were never… dead to me, Cas.” He struggled to repeat the words, hating himself for ever saying them in the first place. “I’m sorry I ever said that. And I don’t blame you for m--  for mom. I’ve been so angry. At you, at everything, at our whole, messed up shit show of a life. Where anytime I even attempt to hold on to something good, I lose it.

 “I’m scared, Cas. Because I don’t know what’s real and what’s not. You said we were real, But how do I know that for sure? Even before all that, before Chuck, before Mom… I was angry back then, at Jack, and at you for always putting Jack first. Hell, I think I was jealous of the kid…”

 Dean huffed a laugh and paused, thinking back to one of the darkest times of his life.

 “You died before, and it broke me. I don’t think I ever told you that. Your death… it snuffed out a light.

 “Then you came back, and I was so happy. I figured… I actually allowed myself some hope that you and I could – well, it doesn’t matter now, does it? But you were distant, and I was too damn scared to bring it up. Too scared I’d lose you again, that you’d get fed up with me, take Jack and leave.

 “That fear, the fear of losing you… it eats at me. And it makes me lash out, push you away like I’m trying to protect myself from feeling that way again… like I can shut off my feelings for you, so it won’t hurt when you inevitably leave me for good. And I get so angry that I scare myself. It’s a vicious circle. I can’t stop it. No matter how bad I want to, I can’t stop it.”

 Tears were falling down his face, and Dean took in a staggered breath to try to compose himself. He had to voice the one thing that scared him more than anything else, not knowing if Cas could hear him or not.

 “I love you. I love you so damn much. And I should’da told you so many times while I still had the chance.”

 Dean felt the weight of the words finally leave him, and blinked away the tears.

 “You can’t be gone Cas. You gotta come back. We’ve both gotta keep fighting, because I can’t do this without you. I can’t do any of this without you. You gotta come back to me. Please come back to me.”

 Dean bowed his head and let the tears fall freely. He didn’t know where to go from here.

 …

 Far away in a dark empty void, tear-filled blue eyes stare widely into nothingness, having just heard the prayer that set his heart soaring.

 “Well now,” A husky female voice drifted through the void, cutting into the silence. “Now that’s all cleared up, perhaps you’ll re-join the fight.”

 Castiel turned to look at Billie. Standing next to her were two people. On her left, a woman Castiel had only just started to get to know. Eileen. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears but she had a hopeful smile on her face. On Billie’s right stood someone he loved with all his heart. His son. Jack held up his hand and waved.

 “Hello Castiel.”

 Cas smiled.

 END.

[youchangedmedean]

Why Dean’s Heaven Outfit is so Cursed

You may have seen my previous post about why Dean’s outfit in heaven is so cursed, but since then I have spotted even more.

According to Jared at the Virtual Con after 15x20 aired when asked ‘Were any lines added or ad libbed by you two [Jared and Jensen]?’ (starts at 29:28 timestamp)

... So, when we’re on that bridge and uh, and Dean says, “Heya Sammy” and then it cuts to Sam, and I’m dressed like, as best I could, like uh like the pilot with Dean, y’know. ...

So from this, we know that Sam on the bridge in 15x20 was supposed to be dressed like the pilot. I infer that Dean was also supposed to be dressed like the pilot but based on the wording it’s possible that’s not what he meant. As soon as we got BTS pics from the last day on set however, we all pointed out that they were dressed like the pilot but there is a difference.

So what did Dean wear in the pilot? He had on 2 different outfits. First a dark jacket and a red shirt.

After Dean gets covered in mud, he changes into a denim shirt and John’s leather jacket.

Another thing to note is that both Sam and Dean wear sneakers in the pilot. No boots for Dean.

So it looks like for Dean in 15x20, the heaven outfit is based on outfit 1 with the dark jacket, plain red shirt and jeans.

Dean consistently has plain red shirts through the seasons and continues to wear the dark jacket until 9x03 so I would bet that the very jacket was sitting in storage until s15.

Something to note is that while Sam is in a virtually identical outfit in 15x20 and the pilot, Dean is not. They must have had to source Sam’s outfit specifically for this. Sam does wear a hoodie and a beige jacket in later seasons so they could have built it out of Sam’s wardrobe but they chose not to. He does not wear these exact clothes at any other point in the series apart from in Heaven. Dean’s Heaven outfit is just made out of his clothing from later in the series. They both wore sneakers in the pilot but in Heaven Dean still has his boots while Sam is wearing sneakers.

Compare:

If I was building Dean’s heaven outfit out of later seasons outfits, I would have chosen his plain red shirt (note: this is not the Demon!Dean/MoC!Dean shirt, it is a different one).

By the later seasons, Dean doesn’t actually wear dark dark jackets much. His only black jacket in s15 was this denim one which he has had since 10x04:

But the wardrobe department decided not to go for these and instead decided on cursed items instead.

So what was Dean wearing in Heaven?

The Shirt

Now this shirt is just plain cursed. This is only seen at 2 other points in the whole series, and it was a new one for s15. 

We first see it in 15x04 Atomic Monsters for the Chuck AU where Lucifer!Sam kills Dean. Directed by Mr Jensen Ackles himself.

Thanks to him, we also get a good look at the shirt

So this is the first time we ever see this shirt and its for a Chuck AU where Sam kills Dean.

The second time we see it, its in 15x13 and this is another cursed appearance. It is worn by Huntercorp!Dean while pretending to be our Dean in the bunker.

And why was Huntercorp!Dean there at all? Because Chuck was destroying worlds.

When AU!Dean leaves the bunker, there is an exchange that is a bit cursed.

Huntercorp!DEAN: Oh, uh, you think we could keep the flannel shirts?

DEAN: No.

So the shirt actually gets a mention by Huntercorp!Dean.

What we see here is that this shirt is NEVER worn by our Dean. It is worn by a Chuck AU Dean and Huntercorp!Dean fleeing a world Chuck had destroyed while pretending to be our Dean.

We never see our Dean wear this shit until Heaven which seems like an odd choice.

Dean also doesn’t normally wear red and black plaid shirt. In fact, the previous one he had has an interesting history as pointed out by @wigglebox​ when we were discussing it.

It is first seen in 12x21 and he continues to wear it into 12x23 when Dean has to go into Mary’s mind.

We then see it again and for the last time in 13x16 Scoobynatural.

Both of these episodes are sort of AU episodes where he’s venturing into another character’s mind or heading into Scooby-Doo world.

So both Dean’s black and red plaid shirts have a cursed history relating things not being real and for this specific shirt, AUs. They could have chosen a plain red shirt almost identical to the pilot but they chose not to.

The Jacket

Dean has this jacket for a long time. He has a blue one and a black one. This black jacket has been around since s9 and gets worn a fair bit. On the whole, it doesn’t have a very happy history, its first worn for Kevin’s funeral in 9x10 and is worn after Claire is bitten by a Werewolf in 12x16.

However, the most notable thing about this jacket is what should have been it’s demise.

Dean is wearing it in 13x23 when he fights Lucifer and AU!Michael takes over his body.

At the end of the episode, we see that Michael has changed dean’s clothes and presumably ditched them somewhere.

Dean comes back at the end of 14x02 wearing Michael’s clothes. He arrives back at the bunker in 14x03 and changes into Dean clothes but is missing his watch for the whole episode, presumably because Michael ditched it. The denim shirt Dean wears in 13x23 is never seen again (yes, I have watched s14 and s15 just to check and have spreadsheets for Dean’s outfits!). His boots are back in 14x03 but I suppose you could argue he had multiple pairs.

We are left to assume that the jacket is also gone (and it really should be gone) but it makes a miraculous reappearance in 14x13 Lebanon.

Now this episode is an odd episode. They get their Dad back by messing up time, Cas doesn’t know them until they reset it back again. The shirt in this episode is also notable and I will write a post on it soon. So again, we have part of Dean’s heaven outfit connecting to alternative timelines where it really shouldn’t be at all.

BUT IT GETS WORSE EVERYONE!

This jacket appears at just one other point in s15. Now if you had to pick the most cursed of cursed times to put it where would you put it on Dean?

The Vamp Chuck future in 15x09 where Sam and Dean die as vampires.

So this jacket should have disappeared in 13x23 but reappears for an episode where time is altered in 14x13 and when Chuck is showing Sam the future in 15x09 if they ‘win’ and they die as vampires. Dean is then killed on a vampire hunt in 15x20 and ends up wearing this jacket in Heaven. Cool, cool.

This jacket becomes connected to our Dean but in altered timelines and worlds while the shirt is connected to alternative Deans. Both the shirt and the jacket have direct connections to Chuck.

So we see Dean in Heaven wearing this cursed outfit drinking cursed El Sol beer with the same cursed monkey from 14x13 Lebanon (see above, it was in the roadhouse too).

This is not an outfit that screams happy. This is not an outfit that screams Sam and Dean won. This is an outfit that seems to scream Chuck won. 

I guess we’ll just have to wait until Jackles manages to get a continuation...

One final odd thing to note. We all remember Jensen’s video posted before the finale when he was dressing up as Dean for the last time “at least for now”. Well he wasn’t actually wearing the outfit Dean wore in Heaven although all the Heaven scenes were shot on the last day of filming, the 10th of September.

He was wearing the Heaven plaid shirt, but not the Heaven Jacket. It was Dean’s black denim jacket I pointed out earlier. If you look it has seams that the Heaven Jacket doesn’t and the pocket flaps are a different shape.

I have gone through all the Heaven scenes and he is wearing the Heaven jacket in all of them. But I can’t think of a reason why on a hot day in September when Jensen is getting changed into costume he would have a different one of Dean’s jackets on over the shirt he needs to wear for the scenes.

[poohkeepsee]

I made a list of recurring characters on spn and listed their deaths to compare the writers.

A few things I learned:

Brett Matthews basically came in to kill the whole Campbell family and left.

Steve Yockey wrote 11 episodes and never really killed anyone except Dean for 5 minutes in Advanced Thanatology just so he could talk to Billie.

Andrew Dabb has killed the whole TFW 2.0 + Crowley and Rowena.

Jeremy Carver probably wrote the most deaths in one single episode (Mystery Spot).

Robbie Thompson only killed Meg, and Jenny Klein only killed Samandriel.

Bucklemming wrote 38 episodes together?!! Anyways, they have the worst death list.

And Eric Kripke has a lot of deaths but the episodes are mostly the end or beginning of a season.

The list of characters include: Dean, Sam, Ruby, Bela, Castiel, Jimmy Novak, Crowley, Lucifer, Nick, Jack, Rowena, Bobby, John, Mary, Jessica, Meg, Ellen, Jo, Ash, Victor, Rufus, Pamela, Samuel Campbell, Anna, Death (not Billie), Gwen and Christian Campbell, Balthazar, Charlie, Kevin, Benny, Samandriel, Gadreel, Hannah, Eileen, Kelly, Gabriel, Billie, Mick Davies, Arthur Ketch, and Michael.

I didn’t count alternate universe people or when someone is instantly resurrected, or the snap at 15x18. I also included Benny’s deaths (him staying in Purgatory, and his death being mentioned in 15x09).

If you want to see the whole list I have it here.

[whateverthedragonswant]

For those who still think Dean didn't return Cas' feelings in any way, shape or form I'd like to show you a little something:

"The price was my life."

"When I experienced a moment of true happiness, The Empty would be summoned and it would take me forever."

Dean: "Why are you telling me this now?"

"You changed me, Dean."

Dean: "Why does this sound like a goodbye?"

"Because it is."

"I love you."

Dean: "Don't do this, Cas."

and of course this infamous shot:

Then:

Then:

This is a man who is shattered, devastated.

This is a man who said the line "Don't do this, Cas" because he didn't want Cas to die again. Look at how he reacted when Cas died in 12x23, how insistent he was on Cas not dying again or doing anything stupid once Cas returned in season 13. That line wasn't in response to Cas' "I love you", he never got to respond one way or the other. Not only did Cas hit him with some very big truth bombs about himself, but then he threw those infamous three words on top of it, which means he's saying goodbye, as he confirmed to Dean before the ILY. He didn't want Cas to die.

This is a man who said the line "Why are you just telling me this now?" because this is the first he's hearing of the deal Cas made to save Jack and the way Jensen delivers the line indicates that Dean is not happy to learn this information. Not because he doesn't care about Cas, but because Cas has sacrificed himself yet again, making a "stupid deal" so to speak. Even though Dean thinks they're about to die due to Billie, this information still irks him once Cas tells him.

This is a man who said the line "Why does this sound like a goodbye?" because everything Cas is telling him indicates that it is, and he's suspicious, because yet again he doesn't want Cas to die.

This is a man who lost someone who mattered greatly to him, for the final time. I've seen people compare this grieving scene to the one he has for Mary in season 14. Here's the thing, we still do get Dean sobbing at the end of the episode, not taking Sam's call, but this reaction at Cas' death, that's actually on par for Dean. It's not that he isn't sad or doesn't care, the loss is so massive that he almost becomes numb (like he's in shock) and is slow to process it (compare it with his shock at Cas' death in 12x23, falling to his knees, etc). We didn't see him cry back in season 13 but we did see him beat the crap out of a wooden sign on a door. This difference in reaction was absolutely intentional because not only is Dean's anger a main issue this season but Cas' words will circle back in 15x19. Not to mention a lot has changed in Dean's relationship and dynamic with Cas since season 13. This is an even more massive loss that hits so hard he's not even sure what to do, as is evidenced by him still being on the floor some time after Cas, Billie, and The Empty are gone.

And since we have Alternate!Charlie losing Stevie and Sam losing Eileen (the relationship Dean and Cas' has been paralleled with all season) in the very same episode, this absolutely confirms that Cas was Dean's love interest and it wasn't one-sided. The show intended to play it down the middle but ultimately, despite the obvious slice and dice the scene went through in editing, Jensen's performance (as well as Misha's) still came through. Dean may not have been able to answer the question the narrative posed to him here in Cas' confession scene, he may not have been able to state how he really felt the two times he absolutely would have given a chance (15x09 & 15x18), but it's all right there.

He loved Cas and it wasn't just as a brother or a friend or a family member or a comrade or any other safe label you want to throw at it; he loved him.

There's a reason the show had to remove Cas from the narrative after 15x18, why they chose to have this be Misha's last scene in the series, and it wasn't COVID.

Bottom line, Dean loved Cas back.

[thisisapaige]

All are Destiel.  Here is my Ao3!  |  Here is my writing tag!

MAW (wc: 8575. complete. Rated M) (tags: Godstiel, Body Horror, Cannibalism, Horror, Consumehimnatural)

My fic for the 2024 DeanCasHorrorFest. Cas is God. Cas wants to build a New World of security and love. Cas knows there is no safer place than inside him. Step into the open maw. God is hungry. [art post by hawkland]

Rebirth (wc: 24 218. complete. Rated T) (tags: Angst with a Happy Ending, Fantasy AU, Creature Cas, Short Lived Enemies to Friends to Lovers, Fairy Tale Vibes)

Written for the Hozier Multi Ship Bang 2024. Based on the song "In the Woods Somewhere." Mary raises Sam and Dean in Lawrence, on a farm at the outskirts of the woods. The villagers say there is a creature who lives in there, one that will make sure that anyone who goes in will never come out. On a dark winter's night, Dean rushes into the trees at the sound of a scream. When he meets the creature in the woods, he expects to find something scary and deadly. Instead, he meets Cas. [art post by Gemma]

Something Blue (wc: 72 634. complete. Rated E.) (tags: Angst with a Happy Ending, Modern AU, Slow Burn, Split Timeline, OMG they were Roommates, Friends to Lovers, Jealous Cas, Demisexual Cas)

My DeanCas Pinefest for 2024. The one where Cas goes to Dean's wedding to Lisa and has a crisis about it. A story told between the past and the present as Cas reminisces about how he and Dean became best friends and how they grew apart. Now, Cas has to figure out if his future will include Dean. [art post by ReverieOfForgotten]

Phantasma (wc: 30 934. complete. Rated E.) (tags: Angst with a Happy Ending, Alternate Canon, Stanford Era, Ghost Cas, Hunter Dean)

My fic for DCBB 2023! I finally wrote a full Dean POV-only fic. This is the one where Cas haunts Dean's house. Dean intended to hunt the ghost in his freshly bought home but— oh dear— it seems this ghost is pretty darn cute. [art post by Sketch]

Murder the World (wc: 10 162. complete. Rated E.) (tags: Angst, Canon Divergent after s10e22 The Prisoner, Demon Dean Winchester, the Castiel and Colette parallel, Hopeful Ending, Porn With Plot)

My DCRB 2023 fic where Cas tries to force his way into the infamous Cas and Colette parallel. Quite possibly the horny-ist most porny-ist thing I’ve written ;-). You like angst? You like demon Dean? You like a messed up Destiel situation? You’ll like this! [art post by Aceriee] [ao3 version]

Lavender Pines (wc: 30 609. complete. Rated E.) (tags: Fake/Pretend Relationship (Platonic Cas & Rowena), Secret Relationship (Sam/Rowena), Idiots to Lovers (Cas/Dean), Case Fic, Post-Episode: s12e11 Regarding Dean)

My Pinefest 2023 fic where Rowena causes problems by choosing Cas as her fake husband when she’s involved with Sam. It’s a season 12 casefic filled with pine (it’s Pinefest after all), domestic moments, and there’s even a heist. Fun and fluffy and funny (or so I belive)! [art post by nickelkeep]

A whole lot more under the cut!

Non Solum (wc: 16 060. Complete. Rated E.) (tags: fantasy AU, witch Cas, hunter Dean, hurt/comfort, huddling for warmth, angst with a happy ending)

My contribution for DCRB 2022. Castiel is a witch who lives in an isolated cabin in the Northern Wastes. He only interacts with those who require his healing services to keep hunters from seeking him out. It is lonely, but it works, until a dying man crawls up to his front door. [art post by Jojo]

Still Waters Run Deep (wc: 41 168. Complete. Rated E.) (tags: Canon Divergent after 15x09, Mute Cas, Use of ASL, Mark of Cain, Hurt/Comfort)

My submission for the DCBB 2021. Cas, sealed within the ma’lak box at the bottom of the ocean, loses the battle against Chuck, trapped behind the Mark of Cain. When Dean and Sam find him, he cannot speak. With the help of the Wayward Sisters, Team Free Will must find a way to stop the next Great Flood. [art post by reafre] [ao3 ver

The Empty Spaces In Between The Lines Series (Rated M)

Empty Spaces (wc: 48 411. tags: angst, canonverse, slow burn, drug use, abuse, and withdrawal, depressed Cas, probably would label as hurt/comfort nowadays) 

My very first fic, which started as “what if endverse Cas met pre-series Dean? Has anyone written that?” A few days later I was like, “wait. I can write that.” I leaned pretty heavily into my “souls are colours” headcanon in this one.

In Between (wc: 32 701. tags: angst, past drug use, internalized biphobia, slow burnish, getting back together,)

Sequel to Empty Spaces. Two years later. Set during season two. Cas is in a better place-- relatively. Dean works though his issues, specifically his internalized biphobia.

Bridge (Merry Christmas) (wc: 2 858. tags: established relationship, light on angst, fluffy, Sam n Cas are friends, Dean’s demon deal.)

Written to bridge (ha ha, see what I did there?) the gap between In Between and The Lines. A take on 3x08 with Cas in it.

The Lines (wc: 88 020. tags: angst, established relationship, happy ending, alternative season four and five, demon blood addict Sam, memory loss)

After I wrote the first two parts, I asked myself, “how would Dean be saved from Hell if Cas already fell?” 88k words later, I was able to answer that.

More:

Thanatos (wc: 2 000. tags: Cas’s empty deal, happy ending, marked as major character death because Cas is in the Empty/afterlife)

A oneshot I wrote because I was very stuck on The Angel. I started thinking about the many different Castiels we’ve seen through the series and I started to wonder what they would think of each other. Thus, this fic.

When Doves Cry (wc: 12 784. tags: angst, djinn dreams, open ending, post 15x13, canon compliment, bed sharing).

A five chapter-- inspired by music and lock down-- piece where I wanted to know more about Cas and the djinn wife he mentioned in Scoobynatural. Angsty as heck.

Lay Your Weary Head to Rest (wc: 1 428. tags: fuff, like so so fluffy, post series, love confessions, first kiss, minor Sam/Eileen)

A one shot I wrote after Supernatural filming wrapped. Sam, Dean, and Cas deserve to be happy, okay? All the fluff. 

Too Soft & Too Much Heart (wc: 2 606. tags: fluff, so sappy I might call it maple syrup, first kiss, same scene but different POV.)

A two-shot I wrote for September 18th, 2020, the last while the show aired. I wanted both Dean and Cas to lift each other up.

Their Own Personal Eden (wc: 7 394. Complete. Rated T.) (tags: fluff, Gardener Dean and Cas, canon divergent after 15x19, based on the Tombstone scripts, language of flowers)

Written for the dchappilyeverafterfest. Dean plants flowers in the meadow he spread Cas’s ashes years ago. Cas returns from the Empty through a portal in said meadow. By gardening, Dean and Cas learn how to navigate their relationship in a post-Chuck world.

insi(de an)d outside (wc: 6 688. Complete. Rated M.) (tags: Godstiel, angst, sexual tension, alternate season 7, canon divergence)

My take on Godstiel. He wants to be loved. Too bad there are a bunch of souls within him to corrupt that desire.

In Just Saying It (wc: 2 508. tags: fluff, soooooo fluffy, love confessions, first kiss, domestic, 15x18 coda.)

A oneshot 15x18 coda because we all collectively lost our minds (I still am; it’s an ongoing process). I posted it for my birthday! Lots of fluff and full of loving Cas hours (which are all hours).

Hatched (wc: 2 110. Complete. Rated T) (tags: fluff, de-aged Cas, canon divergent after 15x19, Dean rescues Cas from the Empty)

A short, fun fic I wrote for the spnreverse-prompt challenge, based on this art.

And Cleanse Me From My Sin (wc: 1 635. Complete. Rated T) (tags: fluff, Cas back from the Empty, Caretaker Dean, Wing Grooming, Hurt/Comfort)

Written for spncreatorsdaily 2k follower’s celebration “I didn’t want you to see me like this.” Cas comes back from the Empty but there’s something wrong with his wings. Dean helps him out.

stay (wc: 15 073. Complete. Rated E.) (tags: light angst, fix it fic, post canon, minor Sam/Eileen, happy ending)

Fix it fic set after 15x20, right after that final camera pan at the bridge. Sam and Dean look around and realize everything is so.... Empty. The ending our boys deserve.

remain (wc: 1 770. Complete. Rated T.) (tags: fluff, Dean’s birthday, angel Cas, establish relationship)

A timestamp for stay set during Dean’s birthday.

The Angel (wc: 155 684. Complete. Rated E.) (tags: angst, happy ending, the slowest of burns, temporary character death, violence, fantasy au, suicidal ideation, ptsd)

This one. This one right here. My baby. My passion project. My labour of   love. It's me putting the Supernatural cast into a fantasy  novel. Dean is a knight. Sam is a  healer and scholar. Cas is a BAMF and a living legend. Metatron is the bad guy. There’s Heaven. There’s Hell. There’s PURGATORY. Give it a try!

Suptober 2020 (Ao3 Collection) and Tumblr Masterpost

Linking to all THIRTY-ONE of these would be bonkers. All tags and summaries are in the collection link above. All of them are either canon compliant or canon divergent. My personal favourites are (run), Motel Memory, Please Don’t Take My Sunshine Away, and Raised You From Perdition.

Y’all seemed to like: The Ride or the Guy, A Game Dean Couldn’t Lose (Rated E), and Sleeping Together (Rated E). (I sense a theme here.)

Suptober 2021 (Ao3 Collection for the ones 1k or over)

Harvest Dean like PSL. And a little FIMMF as a treat.

Five More Minutes (wc: 1 029. Complete. Rated T) Dean needs to sleep. Cas drives the Impala.

La Verdad (wc: 1 432. Complete. Rated T) Cas gets hits by a spell that compells him to speak the truth. Now what could his deepest secret be?

Castiel’s Body (wc: 3 065. Complete. Rated E) Cas goes punk to reclaim his body autonomy after being rescued from the Empty. Now if he could just stop avoidng Dean.

Bright (wc: 6 280. Complete. Rated T)(tags: Alternative Universe. Fallen Star Castiel, Hunter Dean, Bed Sharing, Fluff)

Written for Suptober day 14: Stardust. When Dean was a young boy, his mother told him that the brightest star in the sky would watch over him. When a hunt goes wrong, Dean learns  the truth of his mother's words when a fallen star, known as Castiel, crashes to the ground and saves his life.

Undone A ficlet where Dean rescues Cas from the Empty. There’s never enough of those!

[timetot]

s15 thoughts

maybe i was just running out of steam or bc i had the foreknowledge of how it all ended, but it felt like the weakest of the last five seasons. there were a lot of episodes that would be fine in another other season, but in the final twenty eps just felt like filler or worse - rehashed scripts ("drag me away [from you]" was the worst offender on this front, five episodes left and we're going to do a knock-off "after school special"/"something wicked?"). the constant bringing back old characters - often just to kill them off - wore pretty thin, with some exceptions. i liked seeing adam/michael, becky, amara, and garth, but the ones that were clearly just fanservice cameos didn't work at all for me (ie. having a ruby and anael frenemy flashback just so jackles' and jared's wives could act against each other). kevin's send-off actively angered me. "love you guys" NO, he SHOULD be bitter af and hate the winchesters' guts!! also bringing back jenny the vampire from s1 in the last episode made me laugh out loud. like who??? i don't believe dean would have even recognized her.

the less said about the finale the better. i am erasing it from my memory. there are many reasons it's the second lowest rated spn episode on imdb, and i'll leave it at that.

some positives! rowena as always <3 jack :( saileen!

the destiel divorce arc was a really strong emotional through line of the first half of the season, even though it felt like it just came to a grinding halt after 15x09. dean's apology prayer was cathartic, but i did want some actual conversation to wrap that up before castiel makes his big self-sacrificial love confession speech.

chuck had his hammy moments, but i still think making god the ultimate big bad was a stroke of genius in a show all about free will. not all of the meta stuff worked 100% but there were some great concepts in there: the existential dread of knowing your maker has been manipulating your whole life and now he wants you dead at the hands of your closest kin! god is burning all his rough drafts which means thousands of alternate universes are being extinguished one by one! the winchesters losing their main character status and having to deal with normal people problems like cavities and getting sick and a fifty-year-old car constantly breaking down! good shit.

episode highlights: "the rupture," "golden time," "our father who aren't in heaven," "the trap," "last holiday."

[postmodernmulticoloredcloak]

Sometimes I think of the finale and think maybe I missed something all season. Maybe I should have seen this coming. But then I go and look at clips from 15x03 and 15x09 and 15x18 and realize I wasn't crazy at all. They really had almost everything pulled together, saw all the positivity to the direction they were heading and just dropped the storyline into a big fire (just like Mary) and walked away.

It’s a cognitive rollercoaster. I keep alternating between “the only theory that makes sense is 100% network censorship” and “100% network censorship cannot make sense as a theory”. I don’t know. Not everything they have done over the course of the last few seasons I liked. But... it’s not like I have to like everything, you know? But there were some complaints. Sidelined Dean, which we kinda forgot after the show came back after the covid-hiatus with a few Dean-heavy episodes. Jack’s story... raised some eyebrows here and then. But 15x18 seemed to erase every doubt we had that Jack was functional at “sanitizing” Dean and Cas, and things seemed to retroactively fix the bumps along the road. We kinda decided to ignore The Heroes’ Journey. We kinda decided to do mental sommersaults to interpret Lebanon in a way we liked. But... themes????? Where did they go??????

Did the network influence the metaphysics of the show? Or does it sound more plausible that some writers were working to erase Christianity from the narrative but not everyone was on board? Because it is hard for me to picture network people understanding enough of all of this to censor gnostic themes. Or do I simply underestimate how heavy and pervasive protestant culture is in the United States, to the point censorship can and will put more christianity in things?

I’ll need either more information or more time to think about this.

[destinybigbang]

Title: Farewell Wanderlust

Author: Disniq

Artist: Alisuwink

Rating: Explicit

Summary:

Michael can get Dean and Cas into Purgatory, but they’ll have to find their own way out. They’ve done it before, should be a breeze, right? Wrong.

Purgatory has got a whole hell of a lot more complicated since their last visit.

Between dropping right in the middle of Benny’s monster-leviathan turf war, looking for some mysterious blossom in an entire plain of existence with no idea what it looks like, and navigating the suffocating aftermath of his own harsh words to Cas, Dean has enough on his plate. Too bad the universe doesn’t believe in giving him a fucking break.

(Alternative title: 15x09 The Trap, Except Benny is NOT Dead, Andrew, I Will Fight You)

Warnings/Tags:No Archive Warnings Apply, canon background characters, Canon-Typical Violence, Dean Winchester Has Issues, dean/cas domestic dispute, canon-compliant to s15e09, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Episode: s15e09 The Trap, Purgatory, purgatory as therapy, Non-Penetrative Sex

Link to Fic

Link to Art

[ao3feed-destiel-02]

My Turning Page

My Turning Page https://ift.tt/lrbYa4C by jeanpilgrim Maybe dragging Sam and Dean’s otherworldly lookalikes into their world wasn’t the best idea Dean’s ever had. But it’s not like they’re gonna stay long. They’re just gonna help them out and then move their asses somewhere Dean doesn’t have to deal with the way the other Dean keeps glancing at Cas. Right? Wrong. They are here to stay, and it’s annoying the hell out of Dean. Nevermind that he’s busy trying to defeat Chuck and simultaneously ignoring the feeling in his chest that bubbles up whenever he sees Cas and asks himself why he shot him down when Dean confessed his feelings to him. - Chuck is gone and the world is saved. The Grady Twins have left the building, too, and all should be well. Except, it isn’t: Cas is dead and it’s Dean’s fault. It must be. Dean sees little hope for himself, but the least he can do now is try and be the man Cas thought him to be. A brave man, who never stops fighting for the people he loves, one that cares about his brother and Jack. When Jack returns, Dean finds one of Cas’ few sentimental possessions, and with it, his determination to get him back. If only he could find someone to take his place and help him hide his plans from Sam and Jack… Words: 29646, Chapters: 7/7, Language: English Fandoms: Supernatural (TV 2005) Rating: Mature Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: M/M Characters: Castiel (Supernatural), Dean Winchester, Sam Winchester, Jack Kline, AU!Dean Winchester (Episode 15x13), AU!Sam Winchester (Episode 15x13) Relationships: Castiel/Dean Winchester, Minor or Background Relationship(s), Eileen Leahy/Sam Winchester, brief mention of past Dean/Benny if you squint Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Episode 15x13, Episode 15x18, Episode 15x19, au!dean, AU!Sam, Dean confessed in 15x09, Dean Winchester Saves Castiel from the Empty, Canon-Typical Violence, Temporary Character Death, WARNINGS:, Suicidal Thoughts, Canon Temporary Character Death, Mentions and Descriptions of Alcohol Abuse, 15x20 Barn Scene but with a Twist (Dean does NOT die), Grief/Mourning, Mentions of John Winchester's A+ Parenting, Dean Winchester Being an Idiot via AO3 works tagged 'Castiel/Dean Winchester' https://ift.tt/KVFmGJo March 06, 2023 at 01:42PM

[orionsangel86]

Vicious Circles - An Alternate 15x09 fic

Whilst we are all eagerly anticipating tomorrow nights episode, I have written something fun for you to read! This is currently complete (though I'm contemplating a future fic tie on). Three Chapters, Canon Compliant to the end of 15x08. Full of angst but also hope. This is my take on how 15x09 could go in my wildest dreams and angstiest hopes!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

You can also read all three parts on AO3 here

Reblogs and comments are always appreciated! I don't write much fanfic so its a bit of a source of insecurity for me. Any love shared is very welcome. Please come scream at me about this episode because the anticipation is KILLING ME! 🥰

[mousemarner]

1-5 and also 25!!!

1. Song of the year?

I stand by what I said in my last post but also I forgot that both Savage Remix and You Should Be Sad came out this year so add those to the list

2. Album of the year?

unironically the Julie and the Phantoms soundtrack

3. Favorite musical artist / group you started listening to this year?

OOH I got very into The National and Kacey Musgraves this year, also I only know a couple of their songs but LOVING Cannons this year. Anyway everyone go listen to Julie and the Phantoms.

4. Movie of the year?

Answered! The Old Guard and Birds of Prey <3

5. TV show of the year?

Julie and THEE Phantoms babey!! Also SPECIFICALLY the love confession from 15x18 supernatural and the prayer from 15x09 that’s TELEVISION 

25. Did you create any characters (in games, art, or writing) this year? Describe one

Tierney @katebushstandean and I have BASICALLY created an entire oc sandbox for alternate universe supernatural based on episode 4x17 it’s a terrible life lmao.

Also these aren’t MY ocs but I co-wrote a social network fic with Meg and Anna and they both created INCREDIBLE characters whom I adore. It’s an outsider POV fic featuring, among others, the girlfriend of a final club bro who befriends mark and a college newspaper reporter who has her own interpersonal drama and can’t also deal with eduardo’s. 10/10.

[poorreputation]

SPN 15X09 The Trap: Notes

Summary (via IMDB): Sam and Eileen are faced with the brutal truth. Meanwhile Dean and Cass work together in the hopes of getting a step ahead of Chuck.

Written By: Robert Berens

Directed By:  Robert Singer

Tagging:@thegalwhorants @emblue-sparks @metafest @verobatto-angelxhunter @evvvissticante @sudo-apt-get-destiel @wildligia @mishka-the-angel-of-saturday @stopmakingfaces @legendary-destiel @studio-hatter (peeps put in bold are those tumblr won’t let me tag. It’s tumblr, what else is new?)

Spoilers below the cut:

-We're back at the casino from Buckleming's episode. Chuck's kidnapped Sam and Eileen. He reveals he meant for Sam to find Eileen, so she could act as a way for Chuck to spy on Sam. Also, Chuck with the ableist joke, what a dick.

-Dean is, of course, worried about Sam. Eileen calls Dean, Chuck finds out. I mean, he (Dean) should've known it was a 'don't speak' situation, since Eileen didn't face time him.

-Yes, Cas, Dean is being stupid.

-Chuck doesn't want to hurt Sam, because he'll hurt himself? {Their connection via the bullet wounds in their shoulders)

-Chuck has Eileen hurt Sam, and isn't affected when the bullet wound's pierced. 

-Dean and Cas enter Purgatory. Dean stupidly suggests they split up, why, WHY, it's not that bad being around your not-husband.

-Chuck's torture ain't working. He heals Sam, but not completely. It's not within his power. Chuck sends Eileen off.

-Dean and Cas are being watched. [Singer's directing has been pretty solid this episode. Creature vision/shaky cam will always be a nice touch in my book] A Leviathan tries to get the drop on them.

-'Boomstick', I see you, Bobo.

-Dean asks about Benny. Leviathan says he's dead, but I doubt it. Why bring it up, Berens?

-Chuck starts showing Sam alternative futures. One where, in a few months, Jody calls and says Claire's dead, and that a large nest of Vampires are responsible.

-This poor Leviathan, having to listen to these idiots' drama.

-Back with Sam; A year in the future. A future without Cas, for some reason.

-Back to Purgaytory; Dean comes to, (he’d been knocked out) and is surrounded by Leviathan corpses. Cas is gone.

-Yet another flash-forward with Sam; One where Cas got the Mark (of Cain?) and got buried in the Ma'lak box. A future where everyone, but Sam, Dean, Bobby and Jody, are all dead, and Dean just wants to quit.

-"The Dean who raised me," catch me crying.

-Dean looks for Cas. Dean prays to Cas. Dean admits he's wrong. Dean actually apologizes, genuinely. With tears streaming down his face. This show, this performance, fuck me.

-A year in the future. Dean agrees to go after the nest with Sam. Chuck says they can't go any further because it's the end of the line.

-3 minutes left for the rift, and Dean finds Cas. Cas has the blossom, but he's beat-up. He'd run to save Dean AGAIN.

[Actual real-time reaction? I was yelling at the screen for These Fools to get their asses moving, and even more urgently so when Dean. Wants. To make Sure. Cas. Heard. Him. And Cas says yes, but they keep eye-fucking, and I'm getting even more anxious, and feel so fucking relieved when they get their shit together]

-Almost 3 years into the future; Sam and Dean are Vampires. And Bobby and Jody have to hunt them. And- the faces Dean's making are goofy as fuck.

[At this point in the ep: I thought Chuck was showing several different realities, not the progress of one. Maybe it's me getting overwhelmed and trying to take in everything in this packed episode, but you'll see where the bulk of my confusion comes in, in a second]

-Chuck admits it's a shitty ending, and that he 'wants better' for the brothers.

-WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN THE MARK? MICHAEL SAID NOTHING OF IT. NO. NO, CAS. [I personally blame Buckleming for not establishing this in their episode, seems like something that should’ve gone there. Otherwise, this information comes RIGHT DA FUCK OUTTA NOWHERE]

-Dean and Cas get to the casino, and free Sam.

-Sam literally drops the ball.

-Chuck did all of that, breaking Sam's will and faith, to get rid of the bullet wound.

-Eileen's leaving, because she doesn't know what's real anymore. Kinda like how Dean pushed Cas away for very similar reasons.

-Billie retrieves Jack from the Empty.

Post Episode Notes:

I think Billy waited 'til now to get Jack because Chuck could only see what Sam and Eileen could. They're (TFW) convinced Jack's dead, and so Billie had to wait for Chuck to sever his and Sam's connection. For TFW to truly believe there were no options, so Chuck would leave them alone. Now, enter Jack.

This was A Lot. I could rewatch this episode and find several new interesting layers. But, here's my initial reaction. If you enjoyed, and would like to be tagged in future notes/metas, let me know!

[mittensmorgul]

Do you think Purgatory is going to be colored to be how Purgatory usually looks? Are those pics just preliminary?

I don’t know. I mean, looking back at the promo video, are all of these comparative scenes that are treated with a Purgatory Wash Out Effect in the promo actually gonna be like that, too?

https://mittensmorgul.tumblr.com/post/189637384860/imago-in-wonderland-supernatural-15x09-promo

Promos lie. Promo photos and promo clips are often doctored to appear as something they are not in the context of the actual episode. They’re designed to get folks wondering what will happen, and then the episode serves up something entirely different.

Heck i just spent nearly an hour trying to find a post comparing promo photos to reality. I know it had the scene in 10.03 where the promo showed Dean taunting Sam with demon black eyes, but in reality when the episode aired Dean’s eyes were normal. They deliberately lied about what we would see.

So I don’t much trust promo photos. They’re often from alternate takes, or haven’t gone through VFX. But we just don’t know.

[debrasmorgans]

I used to stalk your blog for years!!! (especially for the pretty edits and gifs. Do you still make those?) Anyways, I thought you've left but caught you lurking on the Grey's tag. Have you seen 15x17 yet? Thoughts about Amelia/Link and Teddy/Owen? The fandom could use more gif makers for these two

Hey! I’m definitely not worth stalking anymore cause PS is still installed but covered in cobwebs. If there’s actual demand I can probably pitch in for the fandom and help out when I have the time.

Lepherd/Amelink -

Yes, I’ve already seen 15x17. I can’t remember the last time I’ve enjoyed Amelia’s character since her PP days. Her character has been tied to Owen for 4 seasons and it’s apparent he’s weighing down on her. She’s no where near as fun when she’s with him and even though I never fully loved her, she’s at her best when she’s away from him, for which I’m glad. I was dying to love Amelia this season, they’re finally giving her some progress and Owen did nothing but shit all over said progress, Her best episodes this season were Owen-less and it SHOWS. As for her and Link… hot damn. The chemistry is oooooooozing off of them, like holy shit it ended up exceeding my expectations. Knowing Grey’s, the second a character tells another things will be casual, it never is. It always ends up evolving into a full blown relationship, so I’m hoping that’s the case here as well. I think they’ll work together (like Batman and… Batman!) on alternative pain relief methods. They already bonded over this topic, so hopefully that’ll continue and while Amelia’s clearly not ready to date seriously as of yet, it’ll happen in the future and she’ll be open to the option. Finally, these two had a fight, apologized to one another then proceeded to have hawt sex - all that in 5 minutes. Would have taken Omelia 5 episodes to get there since they just can’t communicate and therefore can never work. I like happy Amelia, keep it coming!

As for Owen and Teddy - not much to say tbh. Maybe cause most of us predicted every single thing that’s happened since 15x09 and my excitement kinda wore off, but the episode was everything that I’ve hoped for. They’re taking it slowly, getting Owen more involved in the pregnancy (thank god, where were you like 5 episodes ago?!) He’s always been her rock, a shoulder to cry on, the only constant thing in her life and they’re going back to that, to the roots of their friendship and relationship as a whole. Tom walking in on that hug was a setup for next week, or as I’ve already written on reddit - 

“They’re slowly paving a way for Towen to end up together by forming a new triangle - this time around Teddy in which she gets to choose. Tom will get caught in the crossfire, it’s inevitable. That scene set things up for next week’s Owen vs. Tom debacle. He knows full well what he’s up against, Amelia has repeatedly told him about their history and Teddy also kinda did in her speech to him before their first kiss. If he’s alarmed because of that hug, he has every right to be. Especially now that Omelia are seemingly done.“

I suspect Teddy will end up moving in with Owen for bedrest purposes and things will move along from there. Tom won’t take this well and unfortunately, he’ll end up heart-broken and I wish it wasn’t so cause I really do like him and Toddy as a whole. He treats her like a princess and I love mah women smiling! This episode did kickstart Owen’s redemption though, or as Kevin put it - “soul searching”. Time for him to make amends, apologize and be present for his baby girl and baby mama. I hope he’ll also apologize to Amelia for all the shit he put her through. He should be single for as long as needed til he figures his shit out. Megan should speed things up in 15x20 and hopefully the baby will be born by then, and per Meredith - “everything’s going to change once the baby comes”